Poor visibility leads to skier’s death in sink hole: RCMP

An investigation is underway by Elk Valley RCMP after a man died Wednesday after falling into a sink hole at Fernie Alpine Resort.

Wednesday, officers responded to reports of a possible sudden death at the resort, where they discovered B.C. Ambulance transporting a man to hospital.

Police say the man had apparently fallen into a “naturally occurring terrain trap”  located close to the Polar Peak chairlift underneath one of the resort’s lift towers.

Officials say a sign warning about the hole was nearby but the victim, a 67-year-old man, didn’t see it and fell into the hole.

Another skier in the area saw the victim’s boots sticking out of the ground and tried to help him.

Police say poor visibility at the time contributed to the man skiing into the terrain trap, which they describe as approximately 20 feet by 30 feet wide filled with “loose and undisturbed snow.”

RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Brett Urano said the loose snow had a deadly impact.

“When you fall into a trap like this, with loose snow, it’s basically like quicksand,” Urano said, “because the snow is so light, it’s fluffy, which is prime skiing snow — but when you’ve fallen into those situations, it’s hard to dig yourself out.

“And you just continue to fall deeper and deeper into the snow and it would lead to — unfortunately in this instance — oxygen deprivation from the snow basically acting as a method to suffocate someone.”

Police say tremendous efforts were undertaken by the ski patrol and B.C. Ambulance to keep the man alive, but after several hours at the hospital, he was taken off life support and declared dead.

An RCMP spokesperson said the man was from Ontario.

Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, which owns Fernie Alpine Resort, issued a statement which said, in part, “At this time, we extend thoughts of deep care, support and our condolences to the family and friends.

“Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this incredibly difficult time, and again our heartfelt condolences go out to the family, friends and people in the community impacted by this.”